Dialogue for 13th National Parliamentary Election to Begin on 28 September

The Election Commission (EC) is set to commence a dialogue regarding the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election from 28 September. The first phase of this dialogue will see invitations extended to academics and representatives of civil society.

On Tuesday, 23 September, Ruhul Amin Mallik, the EC’s Director of Public Relations, confirmed these details.

“Following approval from the Election Commission, letters will be sent to the invitees. We have requested the EC’s consent for the dialogue to begin on 28 September. Once approved, the dialogue will start from this date, with further invitations issued in phases,” he said.

However, specific topics for discussion in this dialogue have not yet been disclosed. A continuous dialogue is already underway between the National Consensus Commission and political parties, whose term extends until 15 October.

According to the EC’s roadmap, the dialogue will include:

• Registered political parties
• Academics
• Civil society representatives
• Women’s groups
• Members of the media

The dialogue is expected to continue for one to one-and-a-half months.

EC officials stated that the process of finalising the invitee list is ongoing. Parties will receive letters at least one week to ten days in advance, detailing the number of representatives permitted and requesting written opinions. Considering weekly holidays, religious festivals, and other holidays, dialogues may continue throughout October.

This will be the first dialogue organised under the leadership of MM Nasir Uddin. Key topics expected to be discussed include:

• Electoral legal reforms
• Law and order situation
• Postal ballots
• Other comprehensive election-related matters

EC Commissioner Abdur Rahman Masud has previously stated that the dialogue will begin towards the end of this month, in accordance with the roadmap. While slight adjustments of a couple of days are possible, the process will strictly follow the announced roadmap.

This dialogue is seen as a significant step in ensuring transparency, inclusivity, and preparedness ahead of the upcoming national election, engaging a wide range of stakeholders to address electoral and legal concerns.